Lubricating system for gas-engines.



H. H. WILBURN. LUBRIGATING SYSTEM POR GAS ENGINES.

' -vAPPLIQATION FILED DEO. 23, l1912.

' Patented @11.19, 19.15.

HUGH H. 'W'IgLIBURNQ 0F LEWISTON, IDAHO, ASSIGNOR or cnn-THIRD To FRED E'.

BUTLER, 0F LEWISTON, IDAHO.

L'BBICATIN G SYSTEM FOB GAS-EN GINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 19, 1915.

. Application filed December 23, 1912. Serial No. 738,295.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HUGH H. WILecnN,

citizen of the 1(,nited States, residing at Lewiston, in the county of Nez Perce and State of Idaho, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lubricatin Systems for Gas-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates-to lubricating systems for controlling the supply of lubricatinglluid and is particularly adaptable for controlling the depth of oil in the crank case of an engine using the splash system of distribution.

Among the important objects of the invention are to provide arrangement for maintaining a constant level of Huid or oil in the receptacle such as a crank case; to provide arrangement which will enable one controlling mechanism to maintain a constant level of oil in one or more basins or receptacles, as for example crank case sections of an engine; to provide oil level controlling mechanism operated by suction created either by hand operated. means or by power driven means; to obtain such suction or vacuum effect by connecting said .mechanism directly with the explosion mii-:ture intake pipe or manifold of an engine; to-

provide controlling mechanism which when applied to an engine will operate independently of the pressure within the cranev case, that is, Whether the crank case is air-tight or not, and to provide mechanism which will effectively prevent passage of lubricating fluid into the cylinders through the explosion fluid intake connections; and

in general.

to provide simple and elicient controlling mechanism of the `character referred to which will primarily deliver lubricatingfluid t one or more distributing' basins and will then be controlled automatically to maintain the fluid at the proper level.

In the accompanying drawings Figure l is a side elevational view of an engine showing the lubricating fluid controlling mechanism applied thereto and showlng parts of the engine frame broken away; and Fig.- 2 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal sectional view through theiluid reservoir and its associated controlling parts.

In the drawings the engine is 1nd1cated in general by the reference character E, the crank casings by the reference character C, and the intake pipe or manifold leading to the engine cylinders erence character I.

The reservoir l for containing the supply of lubricating oil is conveniently mounted in any suitable manner on the engine frame and connected :2 of the reservoir is the valve casing 3.l The oil in the reservoir flows into this casing and its outflow from the casing is through valve opening i controlled by the pointed end of needle valve 5 which threads through the stuffing box. The valve outlet a 4 A formed in any manner and as shown is pro# vided in the end of the conducting pipe 8 having a plurality of branches leading to the respective receptacles in which the oil level is to be controlled. The engine shown has -two crank case sections and therefore the pipe 8 has the two branches 9 and 10 each leading to one of the sections, the pipe branches preferably communicating with the crank case sections by way of elbow ittings L and 10 entering the base of the crank case at the level at which the oil should stand therein for proper operation of the splash distributing system, that is, at the proper level to be engaged and splashed about by the cranks.

The reservoir is filled=through opening 11 and closed by a plug or cap 12. Mounted on the top of the reservoir* is a hollow frame '13 forming a chamber 13 in which air and oil are separated, the chamber communieating with the reservoir through the nipple il extending through the top wall l5 of the reservoir. A hollow neck 16 extends upwardly from the frame 13 and provides at its lower end the conical valve seat 17 with which the ball check valve 18 coperates. The outflow from the neck 16 is controlled by the coperation of needle valve 20 with the cut-let opening 2l. This outlet opening is shown vas provided at the end of the pipe extending into the neck and connected at its other end by means of elbow 23 with the manifold I. removable plug 24 is provided for the upper end of the neck.

The operation understood. When starting a new engine or when applying fresh oi1,'the outlet o is indicated by the ref- 4 is closed by valve 5 and the plug 12 Withdrawn and the reservoir fil/led with oil. After such lling, the valve 5 is opened so that they oil may through outlet 4 and through onducting to the bottom wall pem'ng 105 the plug is replaced and L 15 the pipes Suba-ll check 1S is raised so 50 ducting pipe ends.

55 ana 5 to the proper empty, the ends of pipe sections 9. and 10 are of course fully open to the interior of the crank case sections and air will flow upwardly through the pipes and into the reservoir to replace the oil flowing down'through into the crank chambers, the oil flowing along the .bottoms of the pipes and the air flowing along the tops thereof. The arrangement is such that as soon as the oil in the `crank case sections reaches the level proper for efficient operation of the splash distributing system, the outlets of the conducting pipes are close and thus further flow of oil from the reservoir into the crank case sections will be prevented, as the reservoir is then air-tight.

The engine is now started and the suction caused in the manifold I by the descending pistons is'communicated throughpipe 22 to the neck and valve chamber therein, and the that air is withdrawn from the separator compartment 13 and from above the oil in the reseryoir. This suction or vacuum effectY will eventually raisethe oil the'reservoir so'that oil is drawn vup from the crank .case sections into the reservoir. 'lowfevenl immediately that the. oil in vhe crank cases'ections lowers suiiiciently to expose the outlet ends of the conducting pipes, air instead et oil will flow a0 up theuconducting pipes Q voir and oil will raise the oil in the crank case sections until and `1`nto the reserilow down the pipes to again vthe conducting pipe outlets are again sealed. -Thus the engine intake suction is edective in -A 4:16 the reservoir and tends to raise the oil therein, while oil will immediately tend to flow out of the reservoir back into the crank case sections as soon as the oil in the crank case sections lowers suiciently to unseal the con- Thus the oil in the crank case sections is maintained at subszantially oo nstant level. When the engine s ops, the suction eect on the reservoir also stops but the check valve 18 will/immediately close the reservoir will Vbe entirely sealed against air.. Should at any time the oil accidentally liiow out of the reservoir into the crank casesections itv will immediately be drawn back into the vreservoir and reduced level in the crank case when the engine is operated either manually or by power. In the chamberl the oil and air are separated, the oil flowing back into the reservoir and the air passing upwardly past the valve 18 and through pipe 22 into the 10 and intol the reservoir the outlets of 'pipes 9 and 10` vreducing below atmospheric 7pressure -in said reservoir above the cylinders when the, engine is operating. The suction effect is, however, it will never he suilicient to draw oil, any distance up into the .chambery 1B. Such c ontrol may be eiected by outlet 21 by means of needle valve Q0; or pipe could be of sufficiently small bore to properly .reduce the suction eiect. Thus it is impossible for any oil to reach fold -I or the cylinders, and the quality of the explosion mixture which may enter the cylinders through the manifold will not in any way be interfered with.

I do not ofcourse desire to the precise construction and arrangement shown and described' as modilied constructions and arrangements could be made which would still fall within the scope of the invention and I cla-im the following: 1. In a lubricating system,

so controlled that adjusting the size ofv the 'manithe combinabelimited to tion of a reservoir for lubricating fluid, a

conductor pipe leading from said reservoir below the oil level therein and to a receptacle to be supplied with iuid, means for reducing belowy atmospheric pressure the pressure in said reservoir above the iuid, and means for sealing the reservoir above the Huid when said pressure reducing gneans ceases to operate.

2. In a lubricating system, the combinaconductorpipe leading from 4said reservoir below the oil level therein and to a receptacle to be supplied with fluid, means for pressure the and a check valve for sealing the reservoir above the fluid against air inflow upon cessation of operation of the pressure reducing means. 4

3. In combination, a receptacle to be supplied with fluid, a fluid reservoir above the normal level of fluid -in said receptacle, a conducting pipe extending from said reservoir below the fluid level therein and to said.

receptacle with its outlet at the normal level of the Huid in the receptacle whereby when said fluid level falls said. outlet will be ex'- posed to air flow, means for reducing below atmospheric pressure the pressure 1n said reservoir above the fluid therein whereby fluid will be drawn from the receptacle into the reservoir until fluid in the receptacle fallsv to unseal the outlet of the conducting pipe, and means forl sealing the reservoir above the Huid against air inlet upon cessafluid,

tion of a reservoir for lubricating lluid, 'aVVVA tion of operation of the pressure reducing means.

4. In a Huid controllin bination of a plurality o supplied with fluid, a fluid reservoir above the normal level of fluid in said receptacles, a conductor pipe leading from said reservoir to each of sald receptacles with its outlet system, the `comreceptacles to against air inflow when terminating at about the normal level plane for iiuid in the receptacles, pressure reduc ing mechanism associated Vwith the reservoir above the fluid level therein, and means for sealing the reservoir above the fluid therein against the inlet of air upon cessation of operation of the pressure reduc' 5. In a. lubricating system or explosive engines, the combination of a lubricating fluid reservoir, a conductin pipe leading from said reservoir below te level of the iiuid therein and to the engine crank case with its outlet at substantially the level in which fluid should stand in the crank case for proper lubrication, piping leading from the reservoir above the fiuid therein to the intake end of the engine cylinder whereby upon operation of the engine the suction will effect reduction of pressure in the reservoir, and a check valve for sealing the reservoir the engine is at rest.

6. In a lubricating system for explosive engines, the combination of a fluid reservoir, a conducting pipe leading from said reservoir below the level of fluid therein and terminating in the engine crankcase at substantially the level at which uid should stand in the crank case for effective lubrication, piping connecting the reservoir above the fluid therein with the intake end of the engine cylinder whereby suction created upon operation of the engine will be transmitted to the reservoir and the pressure reduced therein, means for reducing the suction effect, and means for sealing the reservoir above the fluid therein when said engine ceases to operate.

7. In a lubricating system for explosive engines, the combination with the engine cylinder and crank case, of a lubricating fluid reservoir. a supply pipe leading from said reservoir below the level of fiuidtbereinY and into the crank case, suction piping leading from the reservoir above the fluid level and connecting with the intake end of the cylinder, and a separating chamber intei-posed between the suction pipe and the reservoir.

S. In a lubricating system, the combination of a reservoir for lubricating fluid, a conductor pipe leading from said reservoir below the fluid level therein to a receptacle to be supplied with fluid, means for reducing below atmospheric pressure the presmechanism.

sure in said reservoir abovev the iiuid whereby Huid will be drawn into the reservoir from the receptacle, and means for preventing return flow of fluid to the receptacle when said pressure reducing means cease to operate.

9. In a lubricating system for explosive engines, the combination of a lubricating Huid reservoir, a conducting pipe leading from said reservoir below the level of the fluid therein to the engine crank case with its outlet at substantially the level in which fluid should stand in the crank case for proper lubrication, piping leading from the reservoir above the fluid therein to the intake end of the engine cylinder whereby upon operation of the engine the suction will effect rediiction of pressure in the reservoir and flow of fluid from the crank case to the reservoir, and means for preventing return How of iuid to the crank case when the engine ceases to operate.

10; In a lubricating system for explosive engines, the combination of a lubricating fluid reservoir, a` conducting pipe leading from'said reservoir to a receptacle to be supplied with Huid, piping leading from the reservoir above the fluid therein to the intake end of the engine cylinder whereby upon operation of the engine the suction will effect reduction of pressure in the reservoir and will tend to draw fluid from the receptacle into the reservoir. a restricted passageway in said piping for preventing flow of fluid from the reservoir to the cylinder. and means for adjusting the size of said restricted passageway.

1l. In a lubricating system, the combination of lubricant chambers, one of saidv chambers having its lubricant level above the plane of the lubricant level of the other chamber. means for reducing the pressure in the upper chamber tor less than atmospheric pressure. and means for preventing the ingress of air to said upper chamber except when the lubricant in the lower chamber is below the desired level of the lower chamber. In testimony whereof I aliix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HUGH H. IVILBIRN. i lVitnesses:

P. V. HARRIS. MAY MCCLURE. 

